Group wants care home closed

A watchdog group for disabled-care facilities called on Gov. Pat Quinn today to support the closure of Howe Development Center in Tinley Park in light of five recent patient deaths.

"We'd like the governor to send a clear message that Howe is on track for closure, the sooner the better," said Zena Naiditch, president and chief executive of Equip for Equality.

In September, state officials conceded that Howe could not be fixed and announced plans to close it by July 1. But the decision to close needed final approval by then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who did not rule on the closure before his removal from office.

Marlena Jentz, a Quinn spokeswoman, said the governor is reviewing the issue, but declined further comment.

There have been close to 30 deaths at the facility since September 2005.

Last year, allegations of neglect caused Howe to lose its Medicaid certification, stripping the center of nearly $30 million in federal funding.

An independent commission of state lawmakers were slated to make a recommendation on Jan. 21, but delayed their vote until April because of the new governor.

Even the Illinois Department of Human Services, after years of fighting the center's closing, is now one of its biggest opponents.

Naiditch said Quinn needs to act quickly.

She acknowledges that records show that the five new deaths at Howe were not caused by conditions there. However, she claims that conditions contributed to the deaths.

For example, she said, records show that in some cases follow-up exams were never done and vital signs were not checked.

"Over and over again, you see these basic steps are not taken," she said.

If the facility is closed, Howe patients will be sent to smaller privately run living centers or transferred to other state facilities.

However, family members of some Howe patients and union groups have opposed the closure.

"Our loved ones and their home should not be used as political footballs," said a statement released Tuesday by the Howe Family and Friends Association. "We want the best care in the most appropriate setting for our loved ones, and we have chosen Howe."